Let’s be real, when Gal Gadot first stepped into Hollywood, few could’ve predicted that this former Miss Israel would end up becoming our beloved Wonder Woman. We got to see the former Miss Israel come into Hollywood and become a sensation!
But here’s the million-dollar question: Has she managed to work her magic beyond the Amazonian warrior princess? Let’s dive into her Hollywood report card and see what’s what.
The Wonder Woman Phenomenon
Remember when Gal Gadot first showed up as Diana Prince in Zack Snyder‘s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)? Yeah, that small cameo that had everyone going, “Wait, who’s that?” Well, talk about a glow-up! After that cameo, she starred in her very own solo Wonder Woman film in 2017 which didn’t just break records, it smashed them to pieces, raking in more than $822 million worldwide. And not just a box office success, it also holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!
However, while Wonder Woman established Gadot as a leading lady in Hollywood, her track record outside the DC Universe tells a more complex story. Let’s break down her filmography and examine the hits and misses that have shaped her career.
Pre-Wonder Woman Era: Fast Cars and Baby Steps
Before she was wielding the Lasso of Truth, Gadot was burning rubber in the Fast & Furious franchise. Starting out in 2009, she played Gisele, and honestly? It was a pretty sweet gig. The franchise was already a money-making machine, with her first outing bringing in $360.3 million worldwide. Despite limited screen time, Gadot made quite an impression.
By the time Fast Five rolled around in 2011 ($626.1 million at the box office), Gadot was getting more screen time and showing off those action chops that would later come in handy. Her chemistry with Sung Kang‘s Han had fans shipping them hard, and when Fast & Furious 6 hit theaters in 2013 ($788.68 million at the box office), she’d become a solid part of the family.
The Fast and Furious franchise is available on Apple TV+ to watch.
During this time, she also popped up in a bunch of smaller roles – you might’ve spotted her in Knight and Day (2010) or Date Night (2010). She also had a comparatively substantial role later on in Triple 9 (2016). Think of it as her Hollywood internship period – learning the ropes, paying the dues, that whole deal.
The Wonder Woman Era: When Everything Changed
This is where things get really interesting. 2016-2020 was basically the “Gal Gadot Renaissance.” Let’s break it down:
Batman v Superman (2016) might have been a bit of a mess (apologies to Snyder fans), but everyone agreed Gadot was a standout. Limited screen time, and she still managed to steal scenes from both Batman AND Superman. That’s what we call making an entrance! The film’s box office performance, coupled with overwhelmingly positive responses to Gadot’s portrayal, generated unprecedented hype for her solo Wonder Woman film.
The hype, anticipation, and demand were already there. To fulfill it, came Wonder Woman (2017), and boom! Hollywood had a new superstar. The film was not just a commercial success but had a cultural impact that led to it earning recognition from the American Film Institute as one of the year’s top ten films!
The critics could not have enough of Gadot. The Entertainment Weekly in their review of the movie kept praising the movie and Gadot’s charm. They said,
Wonder Woman is smart, slick, and satisfying in all of the ways superhero films ought to be.
Based on the Box Office score and critics’ praise, it does not come as a surprise that the film secured numerous Critics’ Choice nominations as well. Gadot’s performance also earned her the Saturn Award for Best Actress (very rightfully so). What is even better is that the film’s success made it easier for production houses to invest in more female-led superhero movies. Isn’t that cool?
Then comes Justice League (2017) which was… well, it was what it was. But even in that complicated situation, Gadot’s Wonder Woman remained a bright spot. And when Wonder Woman 1984 hit during the pandemic in 2020, things got tricky. Sure, $169.6 million doesn’t sound great compared to the first one, but, hey, try releasing a blockbuster when most theatres are closed!
Post-Wonder Woman: The Reality Check
Netflix came calling with Red Notice (2021), throwing $200 million at a movie starring Gadot, The Rock, and Ryan Reynolds. This risk was largely rewarded with impressive viewership numbers: 454.2 million hours watched till date is pretty impressive, not gonna lie.
While the audience seemed to really love it, the critics went against the wave. The clash was evident when the critics gave Red Notice a 37% Rotten Tomatoes score but the audience score was a whopping 92%, talk about two extremes.
The movie was also sort of a milestone for Gadot as it is her highest payday to date. We’re talking $20 million which helped in establishing her as a top-tier streaming star, leading to multiple subsequent Netflix deals.
Here’s where our story gets a bit more bumpy. Kenneth Branagh‘s Death on the Nile (2022) represented Gadot in her first major non-superhero leading role following Wonder Woman’s success. The film faced one challenge after another from the get-go, including multiple COVID-19-related delays and controversy surrounding co-star Armie Hammer. All these roadblocks led to the marketing efforts becoming more complicated.
Despite the celebrated source material (Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel of the same name) and strong ensemble cast, the film struggled to find its audience. $137.3 million worldwide against a $90 million budget isn’t what is considered a box office success exactly. Critical response was lukewarm at best. A 63% Rotten Tomatoes score and 52/100 on Metacritic suggested that Gadot’s star power alone couldn’t overcome the project’s challenges.
Heart of Stone (2023) was another Netflix swing, but this time the excitement was more like a gentle breeze than a storm. The $100 million spy thriller generated 33.1 million views in its first week, however, critical reception proved particularly challenging. The movie got a 28% Rotten Tomatoes score, but the audience maintained a more favorable score with 71%. (The critics vs the audience, a tale as old as time)
The battle between critical and audience reception has become a recurring theme in Gadot’s non-Wonder Woman projects, suggesting a disconnect between critical expectations and viewer’s demands. While the movie didn’t match the heights of Red Notice, it still proved Gadot’s ability to attract viewers to streaming platforms, even if the content quality remains questionable.
Industry Impact: Beyond The Box Office Drama
Here’s the thing about Gadot – she’s got this weird superpower where even when her movies don’t exactly set the box office on fire, Hollywood still can’t get enough of her. When her name gets attached to a project, magic happens: budgets suddenly grow and international buyers start throwing money at the screen before there’s even anything to show.
Want to know something cool? She’s not just playing the game – she’s helping write the rules now. Her production company, Pilot Wave Productions, has Netflix on speed dial with a first-look deal.
As if that was not enough, let’s chat about that brand appeal – this woman could probably sell ice to penguins. Her success rate with brand partnerships is through the roof, meaning, when Gadot says “buy this,” people reach for their wallets. She’s making millions annually just from her social media. That’s right – her Instagram posts probably earn more than most of us do in a year!
Future Projects: What’s Cooking?
So what’s next for our favorite Amazon warrior? Well, Gadot’s project pipeline suggests continued support from the industry. Gadot is still roped in for the titular role in the upcoming Cleopatra project alleged to be released in 2025. Although the announcement received some backlash regarding the whitewashing of Cleopatra, Gadot defended the choice. She mentioned that the Egyptian queen was actually of Macedonian descent.
She is also going full evil as the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action remake of the classic, Snow White. Side note: did anybody else notice Gadot being cast as an iconic queen since her first main lead role?
The digital presence is something that cannot be ignored as it has become increasingly crucial to modern stardom, and Gadot excels in this arena as well. She has over 108 million followers on Instagram alone and that says something about her stardom.
What’s The Verdict?
If we’re just counting dollars and cents, Gadot’s track record outside of Wonder Woman might make some accountants nervous. But in today’s Hollywood, that’s like judging a TikTok star by their MySpace followers – it just doesn’t tell the whole story. The ability to maintain the A-list status despite getting mixed commercial results just furthers the confidence that the industry has in her long-term viability.
The entertainment industry is one of the most unreliable industries. No one stays on the top forever, but what we’ve got here is someone who’s managed to stay on Hollywood’s speed dial despite some box office bumps and somehow made the jump from action star to producer without missing a beat.
Is she batting a thousand? No. But in an industry where careers can vanish faster than a Marvel post-credits scene, Gadot’s got staying power that would make Wonder Woman proud. Gadot has demonstrated the ability to learn and grow from both successes and setbacks. Each phase of her career has shown he ability to go with the flow.
She has been everything, from supporting players to franchise leaders to streaming stars. She’s diversified her portfolio (fancy talk for “not putting all her eggs in one basket”), kept her international fan base growing, and somehow made streaming platforms think she’s the best thing since autoplay.
The real tea? Gal Gadot might not be Hollywood’s most consistent hit-maker, but she’s something possibly more valuable – she’s adaptable. In an industry that changes faster than superhero costume designs, that might be the greatest superpower of all.
Look, let’s be real – if we’re just looking at the cold, hard numbers, Gal Gadot’s track record outside of Wonder Woman isn’t exactly what you’d call a bulletproof resume. There have been some definite head-scratchers mixed in with the big hits.
Sure, the “hit-to-flop” ratio might not be pristine, with flops overpowering the hits, but Gadot has proven time and time again that she’s way more than just a pretty face in a golden tiara. She’s adapted, she’s diversified, and she’s straight-up refused to let a few box office bumps derail her ambitions.
| Film | Budget/Gross | Hit/Flop |
| Fast & Furious (2009) | $85,000,000 / $360,405,638 | Hit |
| Fast 5 (2011) | $125,000,000 / $626,140,012 | Hit |
| Fast & Furious 6 (2013) | $160,000,000 / $788,683,342 | Hit |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) | $250,000,000 / $874,362,803 | HIt |
| Wonder Woman (2017) | $149,000,000 / $823,970,682 | Hit |
| Justice League (2017) | $ 300,000,000 / $661,326,987 | Hit |
| Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) | $ 200,000,000 / $169,601,036 | Flop |
| Death on the Nile (2022) | $ 100.000,000 / $137,307,235 | Hit |
| Fast X (2023) | $378,800,000 / $704,875,015 | Hit |
Think about it – she went from “that Fast & Furious girl” to producing her own multi-million dollar projects in just a few short years. That’s the kind of career evolution most actors can only dream of.
The streaming revolution has also worked in Gadot’s favor. In a world where traditional box office numbers matter less and less, her ability to draw eyeballs (and subscriber dollars) to platforms like Netflix has kept her firmly in the industry’s good graces.
At the end of the day, Gadot’s staying power isn’t about any single movie or metric. It’s about adaptability, hustle, and that undefinable “it” factor that keeps audiences coming back for more, even when the reviews aren’t glowing.
Is she the most consistent box office juggernaut in Hollywood? Probably not. But is she a bona fide star who’s proven she can weather the ups and downs of Tinseltown? Absolutely.
